Alchemical Journey of the Self

1
Alchemical Journey of the Self

• Thom F. Cavalli, Ph.D.

2
While Sleeping, Watch
The Hermetic Vessel is oneself
3

• In it the many pieces of psychic stuff
  scattered throughout ones world must be
  collected and fused into one, so making a new
  creation. Esther Harding
• What parts of yourself, your world, do you put
  into the Work?
• What have you chosen to begin with?
• What serves as a catalyst for changing your Self?
• How do you regard the Unconscious?
• Do you use dreams in your Work?
• How do you suffer failure and defeats?
• What are the obstacles that stand between you and
  succeeding to the next stage?
• Have you noticed changes outside the laboratory?
  How do you regard them? What might they mean?
• What have you held back from your Work?
• Why do you do this Work? Who is served by your
  Work?

4
Vas Hermeticum
No generation without corruption
5
Thoth
Hermes Mercury


6
Nigredo
Massa Confusa Blackening Black Land Nun Collective
Unconscious Separatio, Calcinatio Mother
Complex Real Self
The Sun and the Shadow complete the Work
7
V.I.T.R.I.O.L.
Visit the Interior of the Earth and Rectify what
you find there and you will discover the Hidden
Stone
S O M A P S Y C H E
Prima Materia Sulfuric Acid
vitriol Scathing speech
Nigredo/Shadow
Visita interiora terrae rectificando occultum
lapidem
8
Depression Melancholia Disorientation Psychosis De
spair Suicide Poisoning Accidents
Endure to die, not to persist
9
Slaying the Dragon
Separatio
10
Death of the Old King Death of the Old Self Death
of the Gross Body
MEDITATION Solitude Silence Stillness
11
Dismemberment
Solve (Dissolution)

Lead
Reanimation
Osiris
12
Sol Niger
One does not become enlightened by imagining
figures of light, but by making the darkness
conscious. Carl G. Jung
13

• The Real Self
• Wide range of feelings
  (fixation)
• Self-activation and assertion
  (immobility)
• Appropriate entitlements (hubris)
• Self-Esteem
  (depression)
• Soothing
  (neglect)
• Commitments
  (disloyal)
• Creativity
  (unimaginative)
• Intimacy
  (distant)
• Alone
  (isolation)
• Continuity of Self
  (fragmentation)

14
The Albedo
15
Aphrodite, Born from the Sea
Beauty and Grace Copper
16

Isis, Goddess of Life, Magic and Mystery


"I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall
be no mortal man hath ever me unveiled."
17
The Blessed Virgin Mary
Purity, Trinity, Wholeness Bringing the fourth
element of the Feminine
18
The Coniunctio of Mercury and Venus
Hermaphrodite to Androgyne
19
Luna Full Moon
Silver
20

• The Individuated Self
• Anima
• Duality
• Relationship
• Object Love
• Silver lining, medicinal properties
• Eloquence, quicksilver
• Tears of the Moon gleam, mirror

21
Rubedo
22
Active Imagination - Opening of the Mouth
imaginatio
"Ascend above any height, descend further than
any depth receive all sensory impressions of the
created water, fire, dryness and wetness. Think
that you are present everywhere in the sea, on
earth and in heaven think that you were never
born and that you are still in the embryonic
state young and old, dead and in the hereafter.
Understand everything at the same time time,
place, things quality and quantity." Corpus
Hermeticum,
23
Equanimity

Standing Steady in the Field of Opposites
24
High Indifference
I am awake
25
Caudas Pavonis
26
Marriage of Mind and Matter
27
Quicksilver
Moon
Copper
Mercury
Silver
Gold
Venus
Lead
Mars
Sun
Tin
Iron
Saturn
Jupiter
Jupiter
28
Metal Operation Body
Function Lead Calcinatio
Anus Elimination, Instincts Tin Dissolution
Genitals Sexuality, Creativity
Iron
Separatio Solar Plexus, Will power,
Intellect Navel Copper
Coniunctio Heart Feelings,
Emotions Mercury Fermentation Throat
Language Silver Distillation
Third Eye Intuition Gold Coagulatio
Crown, Wisdom, Connection with Brain Spirit

29
The Emerald Tablet
Tabula Smaragdina
30
The Royal Marriage
Psyche and Soma
31
As Above, So Below
For the Making of the One Thing
32
For Making
The lapis Philosophorum
33
Gold
For Making

34
Divine Self
Alchemy
What I have said about the operation of the
Sun is finished.